Friday, July 22, 2016

Varadharaja Perumal Temple (Hastagiri), Kanchipuram – Second Prakaram (Madaipalli Pradakshinam)

Varadharaja Perumal Temple (Hastagiri), Kanchipuram – Second Prakaram (Madaipalli Pradakshinam)
The Second precinct is called as “Yamunai thuraivar Thirumutram “.  As the Temple’s kitchen is situated in this Corridor, this is also called as “Madaipalli Pradhakshinam “.  The entrance which leads to outer Corridor is known as Thondaradi Podi.  
The second precinct has the shrine of Goddess Perundevi Thayar – it is customary for devotess to visit the shrine first before visiting the Perumal shrine. There are four small pillared halls identical in structure called Thulabharam Mandapas built during the 1532 for a ceremony of Achutaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire.
The Mirror room where Lord Perumal gives darshan during festival seasons, Abishek Mandapam, Godown for Mounts (Vahanams), Ramar Sannadhi and Thousand pillared Mandapam are situated in this Corridor.
A number of Mandapams (Halls) and their pillars at this   temple bear testimony to the architectural talents of ancient days.  The Hundred pillared Hall constructed during the dynasty of Vijayanagara rulers remain as an exhibition Hall to   pilgrims, visitors, historians and connoisseurs of arts.
The columns of Hundred pillared Hall are unparalleled in ‘Single Stone Sculpture Architecture’ which  consists  of  the  scenes  from ancient Puranas like Ramayanam, Maha Bharatham, Bhagavat Gita etc., More over the stone chains made up of single stones found in various places of temples  are  best examples to the artistic excellence of our ancestors.
Some of the famous Sannadhis in this prakaram are;
·        Perundevi Thayar
·        Kannan Sannidhi
·        Sri Ramar
·        Anantalwar
·        Karu Manikka Varadar
·        Yajna Sala